RIP: Val Kilmer
I don’t write much about Hollywood movies or celebrities on here. But today, I was saddened to hear that Val Kilmer passed away.
It’s a weird thing to say – but the movie Real Genius had this really huge, oversized influence on my childhood.
Chalk it up to me being a child of the 80’s, to us having cable and HBO. And to this movie being on repeat (and me watching it, repeatedly) oh so many times.
I forget birthdays. I forget the names of close family members. But by god, I can still recite at least 90% of this movie, verbatim, from memory. A lot of it lives rent-free in my brain. Ice Is Nice! I was hot, and I was hungry. I’ve been giving myself shock treatments – up the voltage.
There was this fashion trend in the 80’s. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but it involves wearing a t-shirt… and then putting on a button-down shirt over it. But the button-down shirt was left open, and you wore it kind of like an open jacket.
I’m sure the style was around before this movie was. But I specifically recall seeing this style of dress, and recall changing my clothes to match.
Seriously – so much of this movie, burned into my brain. And due in no small part to the best lines being delivered by Kilmer.
A side note: I know Kilmer’s done a ton of movies. But there was a recent one that I saw that really surprised me – and one that I hadn’t heard much about. If you haven’t seen it, I really liked Spartan (and liked Kilmer in it, as well).
I know he’s got a history with Tombstone, and Batman, and the Doors. All those other movies. But if you haven’t heard or seen Spartan, give it a watch.
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